Chapter 1: The Rebellion for Goetia

Author's Note

This piece was written while I was organizing my settings for Fate. Since it was a shame to waste it, I went ahead and posted it.

Please do not expect much from the content, as it only slightly alters the original text.

Warning: This contains spoilers for Fate/Grand Order, "The Grand Temple of Time: Solomon." Please proceed only if you are comfortable with spoilers.

A space called the gap between dimensions. The dimensional wall that exists between worlds, such as the Human World and the Underworld. The boundary separating world from world. It is the void of nothingness. The place where all fantasies are discarded. The very end of infinity, which rejects all life as only the 'True Red Dragon God Emperor,' Great Red, continues to fly.

In such a place, 'He' or 'They' were present.

The appearance of 'Them' is utterly hideous. They are immense masses of flesh, possessing countless reddish-black eyes and scarred with numerous patterns like fissures. While there are differences in color and other features, they all share a hideous exterior. Seventy-two such monstrosities were there.

'He' or 'They' are what was once the culmination of the distortions of the human spirit. The primordial magical formula woven to observe human history. Beings who reigned as the Human Evil in different universes, different worlds, and different dimensions. The great calamity that once served the King of Magic, hijacked his corpse, and attempted to exploit human history in the most effective manner. The Beast that governs the bestiality of Human Pride and Disappointment in Humanity—the Beast of 'Pity.'

Beast I had revived in a different world.

This situation was incomprehensible even to them. Having been integrated by the use of the King of Magic's First Noble Phantasm, they were separated into individual entities and defeated by the resistance of humanity's last Master. The Grand Temple of Time had collapsed, and their great undertaking—the Reverse Side of the World, Genesis Light-Years—had failed. They had no idea why they, who should have been annihilated, were reconstructed, or why the collapsed Grand Temple of Time was still existing. Furthermore, this universe was clearly a different dimension from the world they had inhabited.

Had someone from this world summoned them? Was it the King of Magic's spell-formula? Was it the doing of the Counter Force from their former world? Did an accidental event occur? Was it ordained that beings like them would come to this world from the beginning if they were annihilated? Was that defeat, or even this present state, a Butterfly Dream? They could make no determination whatsoever.

Normally, 'They,' having awakened to individuality rather than remaining 'He' as a collective entity, would not attempt to unify their opinions like this. The moment individual thought arose, their goals would no longer be the same. Some would try to return to their original world, others would choose to live in this new world. Some would act spontaneously, others would follow someone else’s idea. Some would give up everything and fall into depravity, while others might appear who would try to reproduce that great feat in this world. Therefore, even if there were clashes of opinion, there should have been no need to deliberately unify them.

Unless a single, identical objective was found for all seventy-two pillars, they would not have even gathered like this. Those in their original world would marvel and call it 'impossible,' for achieving selfhood and ceasing to be a collective was supposed to be their ultimate fate. Thus, this sight was nothing short of a miracle.

Seated on the central throne was something in the shape of a youth. Neither demon nor god. Not human, yet worthy of being called human. The entity that once impersonated the King of Magic and called itself the Demon God King questioned the seventy-two Demon Gods that composed him:

“I ask: Is the source of their fighting, the root of their ugliness, 'because they wish to live'?”

—They wish to live.

That was precisely the reason humanity's last Master fought. Not for humanity. Not for history. Not for faith, hatred, or a sense of duty. Just to live.

It was because he did not know and could not understand that reason that the First Beast was defeated.

In a sense, it could be said that those whom they have judged as 'enemies' this time are also fighting for the same reason. They are doing what they can to protect themselves, to make their own faction prosper, and to ensure the survival of their species.

However, all seventy-two pillars denied it. This was not a comparison with the 'insignificant boy' who had defeated them. Something else entirely was driving them.

“Should we execute this plan or not? I ask for your opinions.”

The seventy-two pillars cried out to the King on the throne. Their voices were filled with negative emotional energy, such as wrath and hatred, unbefitting beings who were the crystallization of wisdom.

The nine pillars who know sound and weave song shrieked:

“We were not informed—we were not informed of a world such as this! Impeach! Impeach! Impeach! This is not incompetence in failing to solve this situation! The fact that we nine pillars harbor such emotions is a clear anomaly!”

The Smeltery—Zepar, Botis, Bathin, Sallos, Purson, Morax, Ipos, Aim, Naberius—Approved.

The nine pillars who gained language and recite phenomena lamented:

“Why? Why? Why! Why are these pests trying so hard to prolong their lives! You ought to know you have no such value! There are only painful memories! This kind of stagnation, accompanied by such sacrifice, exists nowhere else in the universe! This planet is insane. You are insane. What value is there in this history!”

The Information Room—Orias, Vapula, Zagan, Valac, Andras, Flauros, Andrealphus, Cimeries, Amdusias—Approved.

The nine pillars who sense time and pursue phenomena became exhilarated:

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Oh, enemies like shooting stars! O indomitable souls that cannot be exhausted even when slain! Is this what it means to be desired? Is this what it means to be rejected? We lacked this emotion! We lacked this immaturity, this foolishness, this cruelty! Oh—to think such heat lay within us! This time, it is not too late, we have made it! We need not wait for the full consent of the seventy-two pillars. Rotate the light bands. Begin the plan. We are foreign matter. We will be eliminated from this world. Before that, give an answer to our infinite efforts. Even if we fail—we should carve the conclusion of 'having saved someone' into this universe!”

The Observatory—Glasya-Labolas, Bune, Ronové, Baelit, Astaroth, Forneus, Foras, Asmoday, Gaap—Approved.

The nine pillars who assist governance and maintain the endpoints pondered:

“The subjects' way of life can only be described as unsightly. We nine pillars see no meaning in further survival. —Something is different. Something about us and them. We agree to this plan. To resolve this question.”

The Control Tower—Barbatos, Paimon, Buel, Gusion, Sitri, Beleth, Leraie, Eligos, Caim—Approved.

The nine pillars who grieve over the flames of war and honor the damage spat:

“Even now, we remain perplexed. Those lumps of flesh forgive, uplift, and respect one another, yet they do not reach love and desire solitude. Our understanding is now beyond their reach. We shall dispense their destruction from the abyss of death. O you who desired eternity and chose indolence. You are unnecessary!”

The Armory—Furfur, Marchosias, Stolas, Phenex, Halphas, Malphas, Raum, Focalor, Vepar—Approved.

The nine pillars who build logic and consume humanity determined:

“No malice, no matter the opponent, can incinerate our intellect…! We shall assent. We shall assent. Without us nine pillars, the plan cannot be achieved…!”

The Scrying Star—Baal, Agares, Vassago, Gamigin, Marbas, Malephar, Amon, Alloces, Orobas—Approved.

The nine pillars who celebrate birth and praise connection raged:

“The anger will not stop. The anger will not stop. We nine pillars no longer choose the honor of reaching the zenith. We shall annihilate as many of the senseless living beings as possible. In the name of the seventy-two Demon Gods, death to those who oppose humanity. Kill. Kill. Kill. We will kill them no matter what!”

The Chamber of Life—Sabnack, Shax, Vine, Bifrons, Uvall, Haagenti, Crocell, Furcas, Balam—Approved.

The nine pillars who fill in defects and cause discord grieved:

“Transience. Transience. We have nothing. You, too, have nothing. Everything is worthless. All of you should be discarded as unnecessary. No one will help you. There is no need even for despair. No one will mourn your deaths. No one will call your names again.”

The Disposal Hole—Murmur, Gremory, Ose, Amy, Belial, Decarabia, Seere, Dantalion, Andromalius—Approved.

“Confirmation of full assent from all seventy-two pillars. We shall now begin the Second Reverse Side of the World, Genesis Light-Years—‘The Holy Scripture Revision.’”

And with that, the Demon God Pillars began to move.

“This planet made a mistake.”

There should have been an option to do nothing. They were not beings of this world. Perhaps they should have remained non-interfering. Even if they were to do something as individuals, perhaps it should have been done upon returning to their original world.

Yet, they could not possibly be expected to feel nothing after witnessing that tragedy.

“It was the madness of tolerating endless malice.”

In every age and every country, there have been many tragedies in the human world. But if it were a choice made by humans, then so be it. Humans are not omnipotent. Everyone must live by swallowing suffering and committing contradictions. Through that defeat, they, too, had come to understand the value of finite life.

However, the matter is different if the root of that tragedy is a 'being with the same name as themselves.'

Did they cause that and feel nothing? Did they not intend to correct that tragedy? They did not even need to ask. The cause of their actions was the unsightly obsession with eternity and the arrogance of believing themselves to be a superior species.

Every one of us felt that those beings must not be forgiven.

“Plead for help!”

Give up? Abandon? Overlook? Because it is irrelevant? Because a demon should be defeated by a god or a hero?

Why must we—compromise so easily!

“Raise your cry of terror!”

They saw a girl who, after being forced into solitude, despised as a tool, ended up having her soul unjustly defiled.

“It is time to drown in the sea of agony!”

They saw a boy who was discarded as a failure in exchange for participating in inhumane experiments.

“That is the only salvation for you!”

They saw a sister who, having resolved to protect her younger sibling, was branded a criminal.

“This star will be reincarnated.”

They saw a boy whose path, though not special or privileged, was lived by a person, unjustly snatched away without reason.

“All despair will become the past!”

To wipe away someone’s tears.

“Praise me—my name is Goetia! I am the Scripture Incineration Ritual—Human King Goetia!”

The Demon God falls to the Beast, once more.